Jakub Vadlejch

Germany’s Johannes Vetter won the javelin gold medal at the World Athletics Championships on Saturday beating his fellow country-mate and Olympic champion Thomas Rohler who missed the podium by the last throw of Petr Frydlejch.

Vetter, who moved to second on the all-time list last month with a 94.44 metres effort in Lucerne, produced another fine throw of 91.20 metres at the first attempt to power into Saturday’s final as the top qualifier

The 24 year-old opening throw of 89.89 metres was enough to win the gold and was overcome with emotion after clinching the title, mopping his tears on a German flag.

Czech Republic pair Jakub Vadlejch and Frydrych threw personal bests of 89.73 and 88.32 respectively to take silver and bronze.

Rohler, who like Vetter has thrown over 90 metres this season, was beaten into fourth with 88.26.

The surprise loser was the defending champion from Kenya Julius Yego who came with a PB of 92.72 and season best of 87.97 but could only manage a throw of 76.29 that placed him in last position.

Olympic champion Conseslus Kipruto will headline the 3000m steeplechase at Golden Spike in Ostrava, Czech Republic on 28 June, organisers of the IAAF World Challenge meeting have announced.

The men’s event was last staged in Ostrava in 2013 when Kipruto, then a rising star in the event and still just 18, took a comfortable victory less than two months before racing to silver at the World Championships in Moscow.

This year the Kenyan returns as the reigning Olympic champion, one of seven already confirmed for the event.

Rohler, who opened his season with a mammoth 93.90m effort in Doha on 5 May, will lead a German quartet that includes Johannes Vetter, Andreas Hofmann and Lars Hamann against a Czech squad composed of 2016 Diamond Trophy winner Jakub Vadlejch, 2013 world champion Vitezslav Vesely, Jaroslav Jilek and Petr Frydrych.

The German team, which will be captained by 1972 Olympic champion Klaus Wolfermann, has exhibited extraordinary form and depth this season, with Vetter improving to 89.68m in Doha, Hoffman to 88.79m in Offenburg, and Hamann to 86.71m, also at the 13 May meeting in Offenburg.

On current form, the standout on the Czech squad, captained by throwing legend Jan Zelezny, is Vadlejch who has twice come within 20 centimetres of 88 metres this season.

Each of the eight men will have six throws, with the best counting in the team tally.